Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Etchers and engravers work in a specialized craft-focused occupation that combines hands-on skill with attention to precision. National employment stands at 9,000, indicating a relatively small workforce compared to many other occupations. The national median annual salary is $40,450, with some states and metros offering higher pay. Projected employment growth is -0.7%, so the overall number of jobs is expected to edge down slightly, but there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. This career calls for a blend of fine motor abilities, mechanical aptitude, and strong detail orientation. Creativity and innovation play a role, as do physical strength and stamina. Increasingly, project management and computers and information technology skills are part of the profile, alongside critical and analytical thinking, science, and mathematics. For individuals who enjoy combining craftsmanship with accuracy and problem-solving, etching and engraving can offer a focused, skill-based career path with defined opportunities in select states and metro areas.
The national median annual salary for etchers and engravers is $40,450. Earnings vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York shows a median salary of $51,540 and Massachusetts $50,710, both above the national median. California’s median of $46,480 and Washington’s $43,680 also exceed the national figure, while Colorado is close at $40,800. At the metro level, pay can be stronger. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports a median salary of $58,020, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara shows $56,470. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro has a median of $48,190, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton matches the Massachusetts statewide median of $50,710. These differences suggest that location choice can significantly influence earnings, particularly in major metro areas within New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Etchers and engravers have national employment of 9,000 workers. Projected employment growth is -0.7%, indicating that overall job levels are expected to decline slightly rather than expand. Despite this modest negative growth, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing labor-market movement, such as workers changing occupations or leaving the workforce. Because growth is slightly negative, the field is not expected to add many new positions, so opportunities are more likely to come from replacement rather than expansion. For career planners, this means it can be important to pay attention to geography and specific employers when evaluating prospects. Some states and metro areas with higher opportunity scores, salaries, or employment counts may offer a more favorable environment, even as the overall national trend points to relatively stable but slowly declining employment numbers.
Location plays a meaningful role in opportunities for etchers and engravers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores: 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78 respectively. These states also show higher median salaries, ranging from $46,480 in California to $51,540 in New York and $50,710 in Massachusetts. Employment levels are largest in California (1,040) and New York (520), with Massachusetts at 320. All three share the same projected growth rate of -0.7% as other listed states. Colorado and Washington have more moderate opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29. Their median salaries—$40,800 in Colorado and $43,680 in Washington—are closer to the national median, and employment counts are smaller at 50 and 160. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara lead in opportunity scores (77.27 and 77.42) and also have the highest median salaries, both above $56,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Boston-Cambridge-Newton offer solid opportunity scores and median pay above the national median.
The typical education requirement for etchers and engravers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and then focus on building relevant skills. Success in this occupation relies heavily on a specific skill profile rather than advanced formal education. Key abilities include fine motor skills and mechanical aptitude, which support the hands-on, precision nature of the work. Being detail oriented is essential, as is creativity and innovation. Physical strength and stamina are also important. The role draws on project management skills to handle tasks and timelines, while computers and information technology are increasingly part of the toolkit. Critical and analytical thinking, along with grounding in science and mathematics, round out the skill set. Together, these capabilities form a blend of practical craftsmanship and problem-solving that supports day-to-day performance and longer-term career development in etching and engraving.
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